Lanao del Norte | An Underrated Destination for Food, Culture, and Adventure
When traveling to Mindanao, do yourself a favor: don't forget Lanao del Norte. During a recent trip to the province with the Iligan Bloggers Society fambam, it was easy to see why Lanao del Norte is growing in popularity for foodie spots, culture, sports venues, and adventure. Our two days in LDN were a whirlwind of activities with fragments of insights and reflections.
Where to Stay
We stayed in Mindanao Civic Center Hotel, a government-owned accommodation in the provincial capital. Located along the National Highway, it's a few minutes' ride from Tubod Bus Terminal and just a short walk away from Mindanao Civic Center Sports Complex. Please check back here soon for a more detailed hotel review.
In the meantime, here's a short video of MCC Hotel's amenities and facilities:
Where to Eat
If you are up for a gastronomic adventure, Lanao del Norte will not disappoint. It is home to many homegrown restaurants and cafes. We were able to try a few foodie spots.
Andrew's Pizza
This homegrown pizzeria started in the municipality of Tubod. They are known for their simple, fresh, heart-warming pizza. It's no surprise that they soon branched out to Maranding and then recently in Iligan City. They also have Andrew's Casual Fine Dining and Brew Bros. Coffee within the complex.
📍 Dela Cruz Bldg., Cabili Ave., Tubod, Lanao del Norte
Soy Cafe and Diner
Another homegrown cafe in Lanao del Norte is Soy Cafe and Diner in the municipality of Lala. It is known for their modern Filipino and fusion cuisine.
We got to try their bestsellers: Baby back ribs (Php 199), shrimp pasta (Php170), and halo-halo (Php 95). Great value for money!
Bonus points for the instagrammable portions of this quaint shop. 😊
📍 Maranding, Lala, Lanao del Norte
Campilan Bakery has been in the food industry since the 1960s.
Fun fact: They still use a traditional brick oven, locally known as pugon, that has been built way back when they started. It just needed repair after Typhoon Vinta last year.
The bakery is popular for their ensaymada, a soft, sweet bread covered with butter and sugar topped with lots of grated cheese. Unfortunately, it was sold out when we got there – definitely a good reason to come back.
We were able to try the grilled food for dinner though. What struck me was the distinct taste of each of the menu items. They don’t use generic marinade; neither do they use uniform marinades. The meat is tender and rich in flavor with fresh garlic and spices.
Other Foodstuff to Try
Being home to people of diverse culture, Lanao del Norte is also a melting pot of delicious cuisine. People from different backgrounds settle in the province, bringing and sharing their native culture's flavors and foods. There were so many other food that we wanted to try but unfortunately, 2 days is not enough to fully experience the gastronomic adventure the province has to offer. We wanted to try the crabs from Lala, the seafood in Mukas, the lechon of Lanao, and the Meranao dishes from the predominantly Muslim municipalities. So perhaps for our future visits…
What to do and see
Lanao del Norte is blessed with natural and man-made wonders. Here are some places of interest to visit:
Pikalawag Beach, Sultan Naga Dimaporo
The beach is a little more than an hour away south bound from Capital town Tubod, Lanao del Norte.
La Libertad Lake Adventure, Kapatagan
Cathedral Falls, Kapatagan
Cathedral Falls, located in Brgy. Waterfalls, Kapatagan, is one of the most accessible waterfalls in the country. It is along the access road. No trekking involved! It got its name from its unique rock wall that resembles a pipe organ often found in cathedrals.
Mindanao Civic Center, Tubod
Dapit Alim, Tubod
Pagayawan Falls, Bacolod
Pagayawan Falls in Bacolod is a sight to behold. It is located about 10- to 15 minutes’ drive from the town proper. There is already a paved access road to the viewing deck. This is also the proposed power source of a hydroelectric power plant to be constructed soon in the area, a project initiated by the LGU through the assistance of an international organization.
Boardwalk, Kauswagan
When to Go
The Land of Beauty and Bounty celebrates several festivals in different municipalities all year round. The locals, however, highly suggest visiting in July in time for Sagayan Festival and the celebration of Araw ng Lanao del Norte. It is highlighted by a world-class fireworks display, aptly called “Ilaw ng Lanao del Norte.”
The People of Lanao del Norte
After going about the province, I realized that the strength of Lanao del Norte is its people. Lanao del Norte may not have towering skyscrapers or humongous amusement parks, but they certainly have the warmest and most welcoming people here. Like my hometown, Iligan City (which used to be part of the province), Lanao del Norte is home to people of rich and diverse culture. Christians and Muslims here live a harmonious and peaceful life. They are bounded by mutual respect for differences in culture and religious beliefs.
Culture and Arts
While the population of the province is predominantly Christian, the influence of Meranao is evident in their arts and crafts. While Lanao del Norte is known for excelling in festivals such as Sinulog (Christian), they don’t forget to highlight the Meranao culture in their furniture and decorations.
Stewards of Unity and Peace
The people here all work together to safeguard peace. After all of the struggles and challenges, Lanao del Norte remains strong and united. We chanced upon a gathering of locals to discuss issues that will potentially affect everyone in the province. I appreciated that everyone, regardless of culture and religious belief, went out to participate in the discussion.
Community Resilience
Our quick visit also made us appreciate the incredible resilience of the people. Last year may have been one of the worst times for Lanao del Norte. Marawi Siege happened in their closest neighbor, Lanao del Sur. And in late 2017, a few municipalities in the province were severely devastated by Typhoon Vinta. Barely a year after, the province is now back to its feet, with everyone helping each other to move forward. It’s inspiring and enlightening to see the people, regardless of culture and religious belief, caring and looking out for each other.
Trust me, there’s so much more to Lanao del Norte than this single blog post. The rest is for you to explore.
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